The President's Speech

Here are some key point's in the President's speech,

On protecting the American people:

The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time…In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy – by advancing liberty across a troubled region.

The Dems seem to oppose this idea entirely. By pulling the troops out immediately, how do they purpose to deal with radical Islam? Clinton's "hands off" approach to Somalia, the USS Cole and the first WTC attack have emboldened the muhajideen. How long do they plan on ignoring the enemy?

Where both parties are wrong is on Homeland security. Spending billions of dollars abroad while leaving the borders, ports and airlines open to terrorists is foolhardy.

On what victory in Iraq will look like:

The changes I have outlined tonight are aimed at ensuring the survival of a young democracy that is fighting for its life in a part of the world of enormous importance to American security…The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to success. I believe that it will…Victory will not look like the ones our fathers and grandfathers achieved. There will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship…A democratic Iraq will not be perfect. But it will be a country that fights terrorists instead of harboring them – and it will help bring a future of peace and security for our children and grandchildren.

By traditional standards the war is already won, Saddam has been tried, found guilty of war crimes, and executed. Our troops control most of the country and a new government has been elected.

"An end of sectarian violence" is the only aspect of the war that hasn't gone well. The  Democrats and the media have crucified the President on this point and thereby blown it all out of proportion. What may happen to a fledgling Iraqi government by a quick withdrawal is never really discussed. The long view of changing the way the Middle East thinks about democracy and freedom hasn't held the attention of the populous, thus making a difficult job nearly impossible.

It's the President's job to communicate these ideas to the public, but the press has served as a mouthpiece for our enemies. The left has made political hay out of every bit of negative news and tied the hands of the troops they claim to support. The most powerful military on Earth is losing a psyops war at home.

On bringing our troops home:

[To]step back now would force a collapse of the Iraqi government…Such a scenario would result in our troops being forced to stay in Iraq even longer, and confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our support at this crucial moment, and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home.

It seems here that Bush is hinting that the surge is a last big push before the pullout. Time will tell.

Other voices, Stop the ACLU,  Sister Toldjah , Hot Air has the video, Captain's Quarters, Political PitBull, Don Surber, Decision '08,